Country star Keith Urban [ tickets ] seemed thrilled to be on the concert stage Friday (6/8) at Phoenix's US Airways Center after a trying period that included an extended stay in rehab.

"It is very good to be back playing a bunch of music," Urban told the sold-out crowd of 19,000. "It's been a wacky few months. It's good to get back on the straight and narrow and spread a little love tonight."

Urban, in his North American tour kick-off, led a jovial, two-hour show packed full of hits, many of which took on a new, rock flavor.

"I want to thank everyone here tonight who sent e-mails, cards and flowers," he said about his rehab stint.

Urban, wearing a T-shirt and jeans, kicked off the show with a cartoon heart beating on a large video screen. The heart enlarged and beat harder until it cracked, a queue for Urban to arrive on stage via a platform that arose from beneath the stage. The screen turned white, making Urban and his group appear as silhouettes during the opening number, "Once in a Lifetime."

Urban and his five-piece band continued the show with a decidedly rock-flavored "Where the Black Top Ends." For "Faster Cars," Urban traded his versatile guitar playing for a jaunt with a bass, then segued into "All Right Now," by Free.

For an acoustic rendition of "Raining on Sunday," he strolled down a large runway and slapped hands with fans in the audience. He encouraged the audience to sing as he played his acoustic guitar.

Urban later headed to a small stage at the end of the runway for a series of acoustic numbers, including "Better Half" and "Making Memories of Us." He dedicated "We Got it Right This Time" to his wife, actress Nicole Kidman. "I wouldn't be here without her," he said.

Power duo The Wreckers [ tickets ]--which includes rocker Michelle Branch and fellow singer Jessica Harp--opened the show with a strong set that included the hits "My, Oh My" and "Leave the Pieces," as well as "Cigarettes."

"I wrote this song because I was sick and tired and fed up with a man. As we travel around, I find a lot of women can relate," Harp said about "Cigarettes."

During the 45-minute set, Branch frequently acknowledged her hometown of Sedona, AZ. She and Harp also admitted it is lonely on the road, as outlined in the song "Tennessee."

"It's about loving where you come from," Harp said. "We don't get to go home too often. It makes us a little less homesick when we sing this song."

In between sets, DJ Debonair performed to keep the crowd--which included American Idol winner Jordin Sparks--in the mood.